Closure means for car couplers



Oct. 21, 1952 w, METZGER 2,614,716

CLOSURE MEANS FOR CAR COUPLERS Filed 001.. 22, 1947 INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Oct.21, 1952 Y 1 2,614,716 I fcnos'unisrrnilivs FOR CAR courmns William J. Mctzger, East Cleveland, Ohio, as-

signor to National Malleable and Steel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 22, 1947, Serial No. 781,279 1 Claim. (01. 220-24) This invention'relates to closure means for closing top op'enings'in car couplers.

Car couplers are commonly made to allow for either top operation or bottom operation, whichever is preferred. If a coupler is fitted for bottom operation, it becomes necessary to provide means for closing the hole provided in the top a weld for securing the cap to the coupler head.

' It will be observed that lugs I4 are preferably of the coupler head for top operation in order to prevent entry into the coupler head of foreign materials which would prevent proper operation of the coupler.

In the past the various forms of caps which have been used to close top lock lifter openings in car couplers have in general been unsatisfactory. Such caps were usually driven into place and frequently became loose in service and were lost, leaving the coupler open to the entry of foreign matter. In many cases it was impossible to tighten the caps properly in the holes when they were initially applied due to variations in hole and cap dimensions. Accordingly, it is the main'object of my invention to provide a novel closure cap which is simple and economical to make and which is securely fastened to the coupler head by means of welding.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will'be apparent from the following description of my invention taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a vertical view of a coupler head showing a cap embodying my invention applied tothe coupler, the section through the cap, being taken along line AA of Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the cap taken along line AA of Fig. 4.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 represent side elevational, bottom plan, and end views respectively of the cap.

Referring to the drawings there is shown the top portion of a car coupler head having the usual top lock lifter hole ll found in most couplers now in service. The side walls of hole ll converge upwardly. The cap for closing hole ll comprises a cover plate l3 which is formed with three integral downwardly and outwardly extending lugs l4. Cover I3 is somewhat larger than the hole so as to overlap the opening and present a substantial surface of engagement between the cap and the'top surface of the coupler.

The shape of the cap as viewed in plan is similar l pressing portions thereof, openings I are thereby made in plate l3 adjacent the lugs for receiving formed so that a substantial portion of plate l3 existsv outwardly of opening I5, as at l6, and when the cap is welded to the coupler head, the weld remains inwardly of the edge of the cap and thus allows a smooth edge thereon. I I Lugs l4 are preferably located as shown in Fig. 4. with two of them facing the rounded 'side of the capand the other facing the opposite straight side. The lugs are so formed that their ends engage the sides of hole I I when the cap is applied and thereby serve to position the cap as well as prevent any weld material from dropping into the coupler head as the cap is being welded thereto. It will be observed that openings IS in the cap are sufliciently large to permit a substantial weld between the cap and coupler head. Lugs M in addition to the aforementioned functions also provide in conjunction with the adjacent weld a truss effect which reinforces and strengthens the cap against bending or impact stresses accidentally applied thereto in service. 7

It'will be understood that the lugs maybe located on the cap in any manner desired. Forexample one may be positioned facing the curved side and two positioned facing the opposite straight side.

The cap is preferably formed from sheet or plate steel of suitable gauge and may be economically made by a blanking operation to shape the body l3 and a cuttinguand forming operation for making the lugs M.

The terms and-expressions which I have em- I ployed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the lock lifter opening, a cap closing said opening and secured to said coupler, said cap comprising a plate having a plurality of integral lugs inwardly of the edges of said plate extending downwardly and outwardly towardthe walls of said opening, the ends of said lugs serving to position said plate with respect to the'walls of said opening, said plate having an opening positioned outwardly of each lug and inwardly of the edge of the plate, the inner edge of each opening ex-y tending along the end of the 1ug. and'weld mate-- rial positioned in each of said plate openings and substantially filling the openings and securing UNITED STATES PATENTS said lugs to the walls of said coupler opening, Number Name Date S id lugs in conjunction with said weld material 564,527 Mezger July 21, 1896 forming a truss efiect for strengthening said 975,926 Bazeley Nov 15 1910 plate g inst bending or impact stresses applied 5 1,089,335 Dial Man 1914 theremx v w v 2,09 ,173 Be el s l l r --r o en. 2a. 1937 WILLIAM LMETZGERJ 2 92,176, OConnor Dee. 2'7, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES 10 The Welding Encyclopedia, Eleventh Edition, 1943, published by Welding Engineer Publishing Co.,'Chicago, 111., p. 484, Plug Welding.

REFERENCES CITED 

